Still On “A Case For National Integration”

Some persons come up with the argument that Nigeria should be concerned with the economic emancipation of all geopolitical zones/ethnic nationalities and not what language is major or not.

The case for national integration continues:
Every well-meaning Nigerian should be concerned about the economic emancipation of every geopolitical divide of the nation, but that should not mean we should not do a proper consideration of the peculiarity of our national configuration as it affects our national integration.

Nigeria is a nation of only God knows how many ethnic nationalities, with over 250 different languages. If this is not something to consider, then there's absolutely nothing to worry about in Nigeria.

It is a fundamental error to single out 3 ethic groups/languages from the well over 250 languages as our principal languages. A nation that's yet to be properly integrated as one nation, should instead of selecting 3 languages as her principal languages, use only her official language(English) as the principal language, because of the near-impossibility of having the over 250 languages as principal languages. This would enhance national integration that we all crave for.

India is a nation with over 1billion people and 2 ethnic nationalities and 16 languages. What's interesting about India is the fact that the Indians, in spite of them having only 2 ethnic groups that would have placed them in better stead to select one or two languages for their principal language(s), decided to have all the 16 native languages including English in India as their principal/official languages. This is a nation that thinks.

I'd be so glad if anyone can state one benefit of singling out 3 out of over 250 languages as our principal languages. Let's not be deceived with the term 'major' and 'minor'. In the first place, no language is minor and non is major. Language is language and should be left at that. Inherent in the term 'major' and 'minor' lies superiority and inferiority. Given the above, Nigeria is as good as broken if any group of people are perceived inferior and some, superior.

Is national integration of the different ethnic nationalities equally as important as the economic emancipation of the geopolitical divide in Nigeria? Your contribution would be appreciated.

John Miles Wanogho
Writes from Port Harcourt

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Articles by John Miles Wanogho